'No permit, no excavator' - Mahama announces tougher controls to curb galamsey

President John Mahama announced stricter controls on excavator imports. This is part of a renewed effort to combat illegal mining, known as galamsey.

At the Mining in Motion Conference in Accra, he introduced a new policy. The policy is called “No Permit, No Excavator.” It will prevent mining equipment from entering Ghana without proper authorization.

“We will track excavators,” President Mahama said. This will help determine if they are used for illegal mining. He noted that Ghana has more excavators than all of Africa combined.

Under the new system, permits are required for importing excavators. “Mining cannot be sustainable unless it is responsible,” he added.

The President warned about environmental destruction and community displacement. He stated these issues stem from poor oversight, not mining itself.

“Environmental degradation and water pollution are consequences of poor governance,” he explained. To address this, his administration will strengthen environmental frameworks in the mining sector.

These reforms include banning toxic substances like mercury in gold processing. Mine sites must also be rehabilitated after use. Both small and medium-scale miners will be protected under this new structure.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, also spoke at the conference. He warned against the damage caused by illegal mining activities.

“The pollution of our water bodies cannot continue unchecked,” he stated. He emphasized that regulatory failures and corruption have worsened the galamsey crisis.

Despite this, he expressed optimism for solutions. He urged industry leaders and policymakers to collaborate effectively.

“There’s no issue here which is insoluble,” he said confidently. “We can dissect policy options to deal with this problem together.”